Jamaal Williams has always wanted to rush for 1,000 yards. In his sixth NFL season, he's six yards away from doing it for the first time. It's the year of milestones for the Lions running back, who's also one touchdown shy of Barry Sanders' single-season franchise record.
"It’s been a long time coming, six years, and to finally get 1,000 is a great accomplishment," Williams said Thursday as he prepares for Detroit's season finale Sunday night in Green Bay. "But I know that this is just a stepping stone for me and I got more to go."
Williams will cash in on a $250,000 bonus by hitting his mark, and he can do so against his former team. Not that he's out for revenge. He's too happy to hold a grudge. When he was asked after his best game of the season last week about Aaron Rodgers talking some smack about the Lions, Williams said he just wanted to go home and play Pokemon. Plus, the Lions are playing for a lot more this Sunday than stats, with a playoff spot potentially on the line.
"I’d be happy getting 1,000 no matter who we play," Williams said. "It’s more important about us just getting a dub. That’s really what I want from us, go out there in Lambeau and get a dub."
After going three games without one, Williams rushed for his NFL-leading 15th touchdown of the season in last week's win over the Bears -- two more than he had in his first five seasons combined. His 16th will match Sanders' record. And in a season where he already has five multi-touchdown games, 17 isn't out of the question. Asked what it would mean to make a little history, Williams said, "I guess it would make me a good running back."
"I’d just be grateful just to be in that category with Barry," he said. "Barry is a great running back. I’ve been watching him on YouTube. Anybody that is in video games as a legend, I’ve been back to playing NFL Street 2 and NFL Street and he in there! As a legend! So I’m just grateful for that opportunity, to be able to be in there with somebody like that."
Williams, 27, has made himself some money this season. As he prepares for free agency with his two-year, $6 million contract set to expire, he ranks first among running backs in touchdowns, eighth in carries and ninth in yards. (He's also fifth in first downs.) It hasn't always been pretty, but Williams has lived up to his billing as a durable, dependable runner over his two seasons in Detroit.
He's also emerged as the heartbeat of the Lions, in part because he's lion-hearted. He leads with his actions, and with his words when he needs to. The man personifies what Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes want their team to be, fiery and fearless. Asked last week if Williams' pursuit of 1,000 yards means something to the offensive line, left tackle Taylor Decker said, "Yes, especially for a guy like him."
"One of the best teammates I’ve ever had in my life," Decker said. "Incredible person. Genuinely cares for and loves his teammates. I don’t know if he’ll say it, but we know that even if he’s not feeling good, he’s banged up, maybe he didn’t sleep good, maybe something’s going on with his family, he's going to go out there and give it 100 percent. And that’s a big-time reflection of his character. We love him and we want to get him all those stats because he deserves those. He’s done the dirty work and he deserves it, man. We love him."
Holmes and the Lions are surely inclined to bring Williams back. Williams has already said he wants to return. He reiterated that before Detroit's biggest game of the season when asked if he's given his future any thought.
"You said, do I want to come back? Hmm, let me think about it," Williams said. "Spent two years here, doing great, do I want to come back? Do I want to come back to more blessings and actually being good? Hmm, let me think about that one. That’s your answer."